What are the odds of dying in an
Earthquake?

1 in 95,885
Lifetime odds of dying in an Earthquake in the US are 1 in 95,885.
You are more likely to die from being Bitten or struck by a dog and less likely to die from Contact with hot tap-water.
Your odds of dying are 1 in 1. You will die. But you can insure against it. Learn more about life insurance. Click here.
When it comes to natural disasters, earthquakes are one of the most unpredictable and therefore, one of the most dangerous. They can strike without warning and often with devastating force. In the United States, California is considered to be the most earthquake-prone state, with more than 10,000 earthquakes recorded in the past 30 years.

The chances of dying in an earthquake are actually quite low, especially when compared to other natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

However, the death toll from earthquakes can be high depending on the size and location of the quake. For example, the 2010 Haiti earthquake resulted in over 220,000 deaths, while the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed over 230,000 people.

So, what are the odds of dying in an earthquake? The probability of dying from an earthquake in the United States in your lifetime is about 1 in 123 thousand. To put that in perspective, you're about 10 times more likely to die from drowning than be killed by an earthquake.

Of course, these are just averages and the actual risk depends on where you live. For example, people who live in California are about 120 times more likely to be killed by an earthquake than the average person in the United States.

So, if you're worried about the odds of dying in an earthquake, the best thing you can do is to be prepared. Make sure you know what to do if an earthquake strikes and have a plan for where you will go and how you will communicate with your loved ones. And, if you live in an earthquake-prone area, consider investing in earthquake insurance.

Calculate the odds of dying for different age and sex combinations

Deaths per year in an Earthquake in the US and one-year odds of dying

Year Deaths one-year odds
2021 44 1 in 7,546,171
2020 34 1 in 9,702,352
2019 32 1 in 10,257,500
2018 26 1 in 12,565,000
2017 13 1 in 24,999,230
2016 34 1 in 9,498,235
2015 16 1 in 20,040,000
2014 86 1 in 3,701,162
2013 34 1 in 9,293,823
2012 39 1 in 8,046,923
2011 24 1 in 12,981,666
2010 35 1 in 8,837,714
2009 20 1 in 15,338,500
2008 40 1 in 7,602,250
2007 28 1 in 10,758,214
2006 27 1 in 11,051,111
2005 37 1 in 7,987,027
2004 30 1 in 9,760,333
2003 35 1 in 8,288,857